Only connect.
When E.M. Forster wrote that in ‘Howards End’ in 1910, the first iteration of wireless – radio – was in its infancy.
We’ve come a long way, baby.
In many ways, the complexity and scope of modern communication – connection – mean that there’s lots of the former, but not much, at least not in a meaningful way, of the latter.
‘The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.’ Joseph Priestly presciently said that in the late 18th century, and it holds even truer in today’s communication-saturated world.
However, there are some stunning examples of how the complexity of 21st century communication can enable connections of the most human, and humane, kind.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the story behind the Twitter hashtag #daniela.
David Armano, a big noise in the complex web that is new media, is one of the people I follow on Twitter. If you don’t know what Twitter is, go find out, but after you read this, OK?
I missed the kickoff of his conversation about Daniela yesterday, but my attention was snagged today when another of my connections – Tweeps – tweeted (Twitter has created an entire lexicon of its own) about @Armano’s campaign to help out a woman with three kids who has just escaped a horrifically abusive marriage and is trying to get her life back.
All the pertinent details are on David’s blog, so I won’t give you the blow-by-blow. What I will tell you is that David started a ChipIn pass-the-hat to raise some chedda to help Daniela and her kids get back on track. He set a goal of $5,000.00. As of this afternoon, the total raised was approaching $13,000.00, and still rising.
In less than 48 hours.
THIS is the power of connection. THIS is why the internet is so powerful. It’s not porn. It’s real people, with real stories, making real connections.
David Armano is a mensch beyond words.
How many lives have you saved today?
Think about it.
Only connect.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it…
